Laundry machine



Jan. 11, 1938. J. B. KIRBY LAUNDRY MACHINE Filed Oct. 29, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 lNVENTOR James B Kirhy M ATTOR Y Jan. 11, 1938. J. B. KIRBY 2,105,218

LAUNDRY MACHINE Filed Oct. 29, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 meg:

IIIIIIIIIIIIII INVENTOR James B. Kirk W QV/L a i 'w ATTORNEY Jan. 11, 1938. J. B. KIRBY LAUNDRY MACHINE File'd Oct. 29, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR James 1:". Kirl y- BY 51- ATTOR;

Patented Jan. 1'1, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LAUNDRY MACHINE Application October 29,

6 Claims.

This invention relates to laundry machines and in particular laundry machines of the type wherein both washing and extracting operations are performed.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a generally simplified form of mechanism for operating a combined washer and extractor; the mechanism being arranged so as to perform the washing and extracting operations with a high degree of efficiency and with the consumption of a small amount of power.

Another object of this invention is to provide in a machine of the type defined, a new form of gearing whereby the customary gear cases are eliminated and a relatively inexpensive form of unhoused gearing is substituted in their place. By this improvement lubrication diiiiculties and oil leakage problems are eliminated.

Another object of this invention is to provide in a machine of the type defined, a driving mechanism in which the speed reducing steps and the driving of the various elements of the operating mechanism are accomplished by belt-driven means, thus providing a quiet and efiiciently driven mechanism.

Another object of this invention is to provide in a machine of the type defined, an improved means for the handling and the disposal of the water used in the washing and extracting operations, whereby the machine may be operated in a convenient manner.

Another object of this invention is to provide in a machine of the type defined, an improved form of belt adjustment whereby a single member takes care of the adjustment of a plurality of belts.

Another object of this invention is to provide in a washing machine, an improved agitator and agitator operating mechanism whereby the liquid contents of the machine are circulated in a turbulent manner.

Another object of this invention is to provide in a machine of the type defined, an improved and simplified form of control mechanism for the washer and extractor operating mechanisms, whereby such control can be effected in an easy and convenient manner.

A further object of this invention is to provide in a machine of the type defined, an improved arrangement of driving and operating mechanism wherein all of the rotating parts of the machine rotate about vertical axes, whereby power losses are reduced and the eificiency of the machine is raised to a high degree.

Stated in general terms my invention consists 1932, Serial No. 640,252

in the provision of a two-tub combined washing and extracting machine wherein such tubs are supported by a suitable frame beneath which is carried a driving motor having belt-transmission means for driving a centrifuge, a pump and a rotating and gyrating agitator. Suitable control means are provided for selectively controlling the operation of the'washing and-extracting mechanism. A compensating idler pulley is provided for eifecting the adjustment of the belts and hose receiving apertures are provided in the top of the machine for directing liquid discharged from the pump to either the washing compartment or to a drain.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts, hereinafter illustrated and described and some of its embodiments in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of my improved clothes washing and extracting machine.

Figure 2 is aplan elevational view of the top of the machine illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 33 of Figure 2 showing the details of the agitator mechanism.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3 showing certain details of the clutch.

Figure 5 is a detail view of the washer mechanism clutch showing the clutch parts in position to drive the washing machine agitator.

Figure 6 is a plan view of the underside of the machine shown in Figure 1.

Figure 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 1-1 of Figure 2, showing certain details of the-fluid handling means.

Figure 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 8-8 of Figure 6, illustrating the details of the belt adjustment.

Figure 9 is a plan view of a modified form of agitator and driving mechanism; and

Figure 10 is a sectional view taken on line Ill-I0 of Figure 9.

In Figure 1, I have illustrated a form of my invention as applied to a two-tub washing and extracting machine. The machine illustrated comprises a washer tub or casing l and an extractor tub or casing 2. These elements of the machine are carried on a suitable frame or base member 3, supported by legs 4 having casters 5, provided for the purpose of facilitating the moving of the machine. The washer tub is secured to the frame member 3 by means of a number of bolts 6 circumferentially spaced about the bottom of the tub at points adjacen to the outer edgeihereof. The extractor ca g 2 is secured to the base 3 in a similar manner by means of bolts I. The extractor casing 2 is provided with an apertured top-plate 8 which provides a clothes chute as between the adjoining parts of the tub I and casing 2. The plate 8 is fitted snugly over the top of the casing 2 and is secured to the tub I by the bolts 9. Within the extractor casing 2 there is provided a rotatable container in having perforations II whereby adherent water may be removed from fabric articles during the centrifugal extracting operation.

An agitating device comprising a base-member I2 of spherical contour and having vanes I3, is provided for agitating the liquid contents of the washer tub or casing I. The base-member I2 is closely fitted over a hollow shield I4 of spherical contour within which certain parts of the driving mechanism for the agitating member are housed. The agitating device is driven with a combined gyratory and rotational movement. The driving of the agitator is effected through a rotatable agitator-driving shaft I5 to which is rigidly amxed a bracket I6 carrying an angular crank I1 which is in the form of a stub shaft fixedly secured to the bracket I6.

The bracket I6 is preferably in the form of a die casting and is cast about the shafts I5 and I1 so that these three elements form an integral unit. The base-member I2 is provided with a central bearing portion I8 within which the shaft I I is rotatably journaled. The base-member I2 is secured in place on the shaft H by means of a washer I9 and a screw 28, the screw engaging the shaft I1 and the washer I9 overlapping and engaging the countersunk central portion of the member 12.

A gear 2| is secured in threaded engagement to the underside of the base-member I2 in alignment with the axis of this member. The gear 2| meshes with a fixed or stationary internal gear 22 threadably secured to the bearing member 23 of the shaft I5. The outer edge of the internal gear is extended in the form of an annular plate 24 and it carries at its outer edge the spherical shield member I4. The bearing member 23 cooperates with the internal gear 22 and with suitable gaskets 25 in sealing the opening provided in the bottom of the tub I for the reception of the agitator driving mechanism.

An electric motor 26 is provided to drive the washing and extracting mechanism. A belt 21 provides a direct driving connection between the motor and the extractor container ID, the pump 28 and the adjustable idler pulley 29. The idler pulley carries a small pulley 30 for driving a second belt 3|, which in turn serves to drive an enlarged pulley 32 for driving the washing mechanism.

The washing and extracting mechanisms are provided with suitable clutches whereby these parts of the machine may be connected or disconnected selectively in driving relation to the electric motor. The pump 28 is continuously driven, having at its inlet side an open communicating connection 33 with the extractor casing 2 and a valve-controlled communicating connection 34 with the washer tub. The outlet side of the pump is connected in communicating relation with one end of a hose 35 which terminates at its other end in a swiveled gooseneck 36.

The washing mechanism is controlled by means of the clutch illustrated in Figures 3, 4, and 5.

This clutch is of the friction cone type and it has a driving cone 31, the outer edge of which is fixedly secured to the enlarged driving pulley 32 and the center of which is formed with a bearing surface. The cone 3! is rotatably mounted on a bushing 38. A driven conical clutch member 39, faced with a suitable friction material 40, cooperates with the driving clutch member 31 in controlling operation of the agitator shaft. The driven clutch member 39 is fixedly secured to the shaft I5 by means of a set screw 4|, which passes through a slot 42 formed in the bushing 38.

The lower end of the bushing 38 is formed with a shoulder or collar 43. A cup-shaped member 44 having a flanged rim is secured by any suitable means such as the screw 45 to the lower end of the shaft I 5. A coil spring 46 is held in compression between the cup-shaped member 44 and a washer 41 which abuts against the shoulder 43 of the bushing 38. The upper end of the bushing 38 abuts against a washer 48. The washer 48 in turn is pressed against the lower end of a sleeve 49 and is held in such position by reason of the force exerted by the spring 46.

A slanting slot 50 is formed in the sleeve 49 for receiving a bolt or stud 5| fixedly carried by the bearing member 23. An operating handle 52 is fixed to the sleeve 49. When the operating handle 52 is angularly shifted in one direction or the other the inclined slot 50, working on the bolt 5| serves to raise or lower the sleeve member 49 and in doing so it axially shifts the bushing 38 and the driving clutch member 31, thus connecting or disconnecting the clutch members 31 and 39 with each other as the case may be. This arrangement provides a simple and inexpensive form of clutch device.

Suitable packing means 54 are provided in the centrally enlarged lower portion 53 of the bearing member 23. The packing material 54 carried at this point is pressed in sealing relation about the shaft I5 by means of a slidablyrfitted gland 55 and a spring 56, the latter being pressed against the gland by means of an apertured nut 5! threadedly engaging the lowermost end of the bearing member 23.

In Figure 3 the clutch is shown in its disengaged position and in Figure 5 the clutch is shown in its engaged or driving position. In such positions of the clutch and the sleeve 49, the stud 5| is received in one or the other of the horizontal end portions of the slanting slot 50. When the clutch is in the position shown in Figure 5 and the motor is operating. the shaft I5 and the angular crank I! are continuously rotated in one direction thereby causing the agitating member I2 to gyrate about the axis of the shaft I5 after the manner of a gyrostatic pendulum or a spinning top having the tip of its peg in a conical hole. The center of the agitating member thus describes a circular path in a direction corresponding to the direction of rotation of the shaft I5. Due to the fact that the internal gear 22 is larger than the gear 2|, a rotational movement of greater angular velocity and reversely to that of the shaft I5 is imparted to the agitating member I2. The motion of the vanes 0r blades I3 of the agitator thus is the resultant of the two circular motions or compound movement of the agitator.

The speed of rotation of the agitating member as compared with that of the shaft I5 may be decreased by either making the internal gear 22 smaller or by increasing the size of the external gear 2| and similarly if it is desired to fitted in a. slot 69 formed in the plate 65.

prevent any rotational movement of the member l2 about its own axis, the gears 2i and 2! would be both of the same size. Thus by varying the relative'size of the gears 2| and 22 the agitator can be made to rotate faster or slower about its axis or such relative rotationalmovement may be suppressed entirely if so desired.

With the parts as shown, the base-member I2 is driven with a gyratory motion in one direction about the axis of the shaft I5 and with a rotational motion in a reverse direfim about the axis of the angul iacrank H. Due to the compound motion imparted to this member the blades l3 of the agitator will sweep back and forth about the central region of the tub in such manner so as to cause a violently pulsating circulation of the water upwardly from the center of the tub and then outwardly and downwardly and then inwardly back to the agitator with a movement similar to that described by the particles of a circular vortex ring about the axis of the vortex filament.

The washing action accomplished by my improved form of agitator is somewhat similar though in a reverse direction to that accomplished by the reversely rotating so-called gyrator type of washing machine with the difference, however, that such machines require complicated and power-consuming reversing mechanism, whereas the same object is accomplished in my improved construction by the combination of the gyratory and rotary motions imparted to the agitating member. By reason of this arrangement the machine operates very smoothly and quietly and requires considerably less power to operate than would be necessary if some of the parts were reciprocated or alternately-reversely operated.

A clutch member 58 of similar construction to the washer mechanism clutch just described is provided for controlling the operation of the extractor container l8. A suitable control handle 59 is provided for effecting the engagement and disengagement of this clutch. The pump 28 is provided with a suitable control valve having an operating handle 60 for connecting and disconnecting the pump to the washer tub. As previously stated the pump is in continuous communication with the extractor tub 2 and the outlet side of the pump is in constant communication with the hose 35.

The gooseneck 36 of the hose 35 is arranged for reception in either of the openings 6| or 62 formed in a recess in the top of the extractor top plate 8. The opening 6| communicates with a drain hose 63, whereas the opening 62 communicates with a side opening 64 formed in the upper part of the wall of the washer tub. By this simple expedient the water drained from either the washer tub or the extractor tub can bedirected to a, suitable drain or returned to the washer tub. This arrangement provides a very convenient method of handling waste water from the machine or for returning usable soapy water from the extractor casing to the washer tub and it at the same time prevents spilling and splashing water about the fioor in the room where the machine is used as the hose 63 empties into a suitable drain or receptacle.

The idler pulley 29 is slidably mounted upon a plate 65 and is secured thereto by means of a lower and an upper'plate 66 and 61 secured together by means of a -rivet 68 which is slidably The plate 66 has secured to it a stub shaft 10, which provides a bearing pin for the idler pulley. The

plate member 61 is provided with an apertured up-turned portion 1| through which an adjusting rod 12 extends.

The rod 12 is threaded ,at its opposite end and is adjustably received in a threaded member 13 swiveled on the plate 65. A spring 14 abuts against the plate member H at one end and at its other end it engages a washer 15 carried by the rod 12. A knurled operating handle 16 is provided on the end of this rod for tightening or loosening the tension of the spring 14 and in this manner tightening and loosening the tension of the belts 21 and 3|. The plate 66 is freely movable about the rivet 68 and this arrangement permits suflicient oscillation of the pulley about such point so as to equalize the tension between the belts 3| and 21. The plate 65 also serves as a support for the motor 26 which is secured thereto by studs 84.

In the modified form of agitating mechanism shown in Figures 9 and 10 the agitator member 11 is rotatably mounted upon a vertical crank 18 fixed to turn with an agitator drive shaft 19. The agitating member 11 is provided with a plurality of vanes 8|] and it has a base member 8|, the same being in theshape of a hollow inverted dished member which serves to provide a support for a gear 82 operatively associated with an internal stationary gear 83.

This arrangement operates in much the same manner as does the mechanism shown in Figure 1 with the difference, however, that the agitator gyrates in a horizontal plane as will be evident from a consideration of the drawings. Thus when the shaft 19 is rotated the agitator is gyrated about an axis of the shaft I9 and at the same time by reason of the relative size of the gears 82 and 83 it is given arotational motion in a direction reverse to the direction of its gyratory movement.

The operation of the machine is a very simple matter. To begin with the tub I is filled with clothes and a detergent liquid or soap solution. The control lever 52 is shifted to the on position after the motor 26 has been started and after a few minutes of agitation the operation of the agitator is stopped, and the clothes are transferred to the extractor casing Ill. The extractor control lever 59 is then moved to the on position and in a short time the centrifuge will have extracted most of the water from the clothes whereupon the centrifuge is stopped and the clothes removed therefrom.

The clothes are next rinsed either by adding clean water to the extractor while stationary or rotating or by transferring them to a tub full of rinsing water after which operation the clothes are returned to the extractor for the final drying operation. During the initial extracting operation the soapy w ter can be returned to the tub I by connecting he gooseneck 36 to the hole 62 and during the second extracting operation the rinse water can be conveyed to a drain by connecting the gooseneck to the hole 6i. When the washing is finished the valve member 68 is shifted to open valve position and contents of the tub I are pumped to a drain.

Furthermore it is to be understood that the particular forms of apparatus shown and described, and the particular procedure set forth are presented for purposes of explanation and that various modifications of said apparatus and procedure can be made without departing from my invention as described in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

1. In a washing machine, a tub for containing Water and goods to be washed, an agitator mounted for gyratory movement in said tub near the bottom thereof and having a plurality of upstanding water impelling blades extending outwardly therefrom in contact with the goods and water in said tub, said blades being of substantial height near the center thereof and decreasing in height towards the ends thereof whereby side faces of substantial area are provided and while the agitator is operated the water and goods will be forced upwardly, outwardly, downwardly and then inwardly in circulatory paths to violently force the water through, between and around the goods and thoroughly cleans them while they are sustained in the water and contacted with by the impelling blades of said agitator, and motor driven means for revolving and rotating said agitator.

2. In a washing machine, a container for detergent liquid and articles to be washed, an agitator mounted in said container for both bodily and rotational movement and power means for continuously driving the agitator, said agitator consisting of a base member and a plurality of liquid impelling vanes extending from one face thereof, said vanes being of maximum depth adjacent the center thereof and having their outer ends inclined toward and merging in the base member,

the central portion of said base member being free from water impelling projections.

3. A clothes washing machine comprising a fabric and liquid containing receptacle and a supporting frame, a vertical shaft mounted centrally of said receptacle and having an oblique crank portion at the free end, a clothes agitator immersed in the contents of said receptacle and mounted on said crank portion, said agitator comprising a base with upstanding vanes, a source of power operatively associated with said shaft, and means acting simultaneously to gyrate and rotate said agitator when said shaft is rotated by said source of power.

4. A clothes washing machine comprising a fabric and liquid containing receptacle and a supporting frame, a vertical shaft mounted centrally of said receptacle and having an oblique crank portion at the free end, a clothes agitator immersed in the contents of said receptacle and mounted on said crank portion, said agitator comprising a base with upstanding vanes, a source of power operatively associated with said shaft, and means acting simultaneously to gyrate such agitator in one direction and to rotate it in a reverse direction when said shaft is driven by said source of power.

5. In a clothes washing machine, gy'rating mechanism comprising a driven shaft, an angular crank on said shaft, an agitator having a spherically shaped base with upstanding flanges rotatably mounted on said crank and differential means giving said agitating member a rotational movement relatively to the movement of said angular crank.

6. A clothes washing machine comprising a tub having a housing adjacent to the center at its bottom, said housing having an inturned side wall projecting above the bottom of said tub and providing a housing for motion-converting mechanism, a hollow shell receiving said housing and mounted for gyratory movement relatively thereto, vaned agitating means carried by said shell, and a shaft in said housing having a crank journaled to said shell for driving it with a gyratory movement.

JAMES B. KIRBY. 

